No spark question from a newbie

[440racer]

I have owned a 1994 Johnson 200 hp for about 9 years.

For the past couple of years every time I try to start the boat after it has sat for a few days or weeks I have no spark at the plugs.

Inevitably, after spending as much as an hour moving the power pack around along with any other wires, the motor will eventually start and run well (execept) for an intermittent ignition cut off @ WOT that last for about .5 sec).

I'm not real familiar with outboards, I know cars and bikes but little about the outboards.

I'm pretty confident that it's ingnition and not fuel because spraying starting fluid won't crank it besides the fact there's no spark at the plugs.

Any insight would be appreciated .

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: No spark question from a newbie

first never use starting fluid on a 2 stroke motor, use some premixed gas.
Welcome to iboats.

i suggest cleaning all the contacts, remove the screws and shine up the connections. if wiggling things get it to fire. do you run it in salt water?

 

[440racer]

Re: No spark question from a newbie

first never use starting fluid on a 2 stroke motor, use some premixed gas.
Welcome to iboats.



i suggest cleaning all the contacts, remove the screws and shine up the connections. if wiggling things get it to fire. do you run it in salt water?

Wow! never heard not to use starting fluid on a 2 stroke. Is it because of possible flameout through the carb or harmful to the engine (no oil)?

Thanks for the welcome and no saltwater.

I have unplugged and plugged all the connectors typically when I have this problem. I didn't see any screws to clean, just 2 bolts and 2 nuts holding the power pack on. I typically jiggle all the wires, plug wires, coil wires fuses, etc. and then all of a sudden it'll fire up. I never can tell exactly where the problem is.

I'm wondering if I should try to figure it out my self or take it to someone that knows where to start looking for the problem since it probably won't start when I take it to them, unlike some other intermittent problems that a mechanic can't re-create.

Anybody have any recommendations for someone to look at it in the Seneca, SC area in case I can't figure it out?

 

[440racer]

Re: No spark question from a newbie

bump

 

[Dhadley]

Re: No spark question from a newbie

How are you checking for spark?

 

[wavrider]

Re: No spark question from a newbie

If it eventully starts then it could be several things, none of them to hard to repair.

First you can purchase a repair manual, get one from your dealer for your engine. It will save you hundreds of $$$ in repair costs.

Secondly you seem to know enough to look for electrical problem, why pay someone to fix it when with a manual and assistance from members on this forum you can do it yourself and spend the money you save on gas for that powerhouse engine you have.

there is a yellow and black wire in your amp, (not familier with your engine but the yellow and black wire should be general color for all omc's) this is the kill wire from your ignition, you will have to remove the cover from your amp to see all the connections, remove this yellow and black wire and try to start your engine, if it starts up you either have a bad ignition switch (most likely) or shorted wiring harness.

 

[440racer]

Re: No spark question from a newbie

If it eventully starts then it could be several things, none of them to hard to repair.

First you can purchase a repair manual, get one from your dealer for your engine. It will save you hundreds of $$$ in repair costs.

Secondly you seem to know enough to look for electrical problem, why pay someone to fix it when with a manual and assistance from members on this forum you can do it yourself and spend the money you save on gas for that powerhouse engine you have.

there is a yellow and black wire in your amp, (not familier with your engine but the yellow and black wire should be general color for all omc's) this is the kill wire from your ignition, you will have to remove the cover from your amp to see all the connections, remove this yellow and black wire and try to start your engine, if it starts up you either have a bad ignition switch (most likely) or shorted wiring harness.

Thanks for the input. I had set this thread to automatically alert me when replied to but it didn't.

I do like saving money especially with gas prices as they are and the shop manual is a great idea. I've been checking for spark with a spark tester inserted into one of the plug wires and clamping it to the block and it does show spark when I have it.

Is the amp the thing on the top of the engine partially under the flywheel that a lot of wires run in and out of and has electronics packed in gel underneath?

I'll bet it is the ignition switch or circuit. To start the motor when it is running, I have to turn the ignition switch to "crank" position and then wiggle the throttle back and forth for the contacts inside to allow it to crank.

Does that sound possible?

I guess the kill wire works kind of like a 2-stroke dirtbike, which I'm familiar with, by grounding the ignition as opposed to the ignition switch providing current to an ignition system as in a car.

The more I think about it I'll bet it is a short in the kill wire somewhere. Whenever I eventually get it started and get out on the water I can be running at 1/2 to full throttle and the motor will sporadically cut out as if the ignition system is grounded for about 1/2 sec. It never completely dies but the sudden loss of power is aggravating.